At the case briefing, after listening to my mom's autopsy report, the officers all had somber expressions.
My death was gruesome, making facial identification impossible.
The abandoned building where my body was dumped was not the original crime scene, significantly increasing the difficulty of solving the case.
Dad instructed the officers to search the area around where the body was found for any suspicious activity.
"Have the forensic pathologist perform another autopsy to see if there's anything new, and send the DNA samples to the forensic lab as soon as possible."
He left my mom with that remark before hurrying off with his team.
They showed more concern for the body than they ever did for me.
My mom once stroked Matthew's hair and said that being a forensic pathologist was a noble profession. She believed that giving a voice to the dead was an important duty.
I watched as Matthew nodded in agreement. However, the moment my mom turned away, Matthew wiped his hair in disgust.
That time, I slapped Matthew across the face, but my dad punished me by shaving my head bald.
Now, my mom gently touched my hair with a hint of sadness and whispered, "To die so horribly... his family must be heartbroken."
I smirked bitterly. My family would probably be relieved by my death. Maybe only Amy would feel a little sad.
Mom's gloved hand moved across my back.
There was a large burn scar there, one I got after being kidnapped.
When they brought me home that year and I changed clothes, my mom stared at it in surprise. There was a hint of disgust in her expression. "How did you get that on your back? That's disgusting. Don't scare Matthew."
Could she recognize me now because of this scar?
I bit my lip nervously. Beads of sweat were forming on my forehead.
But a second later, Mom dismissed it casually. "This didn't happen this time."
Ruby, suddenly gasped softly. "Dr. Stella, there's a piece of paper in the victim's stomach!"
My mom's eyes widened as she took the paper and sighed. "The stomach acid has already corroded it. We'll see if the crime scene investigation (CSI) can analyze it later."
Suddenly, a phone rang. It was Matthew's favorite song.
Mom quickly removed her gloves and rushed to the hallway. Her voice was soft and loving.
"Sweetheart, what's wrong? Mommy's at work."
"Tomorrow?" Mom paused for a moment, then gritted her teeth. "Dad and I will definitely be there to cheer you on. Amy is on a business trip and won't be back in time."
Matthew's happy voice filled my ears. "Love you, Mom! I really hope Ethan can come watch my match. If he’s there to support me, I'm sure I'll win.
"It's fine if he doesn't want to come. It's normal that he doesn't like me. After all, I've hogged all your and Dad's love for so many years."
Even though Matthew and I had never gotten along, from the day I returned home, he was always secretly framing me.
But in front of our parents, he loved pretending we were close brothers.
From my experience, I figured Mom would be criticizing me soon.
Sure enough, Mom's voice suddenly grew sharp. "You are my precious son. What does Ethan even count for? He steals from the family and bullies you behind our backs. He doesn't deserve to be my son."
"Don't worry, even if he broke his leg, I'd make sure he wheels himself to watch your match!"
Matthew giggled happily. "Dad called me today to remind me to stay safe. Mom, if you get the chance, make sure you remind Ethan too."
"You take care of yourself. As long as Ethan doesn't die in front of me, I don't care what he’s up to." Mom always spoke about me with such disdain.
Maybe it was because the son they found was not raised properly and did not fit the family's standards.
Even after I was found, they refused to change my last name.
In their hearts, the only son they had was Matthew.
While they worried about his safety, no one remembered that I was their real son.
I wonder what their reaction would be when they found out how I died.
After all, Matthew was the one responsible for my death, and they were part of it too.
As she gently told Matthew to rest, my mom received a call from Amy."Amy, when does your business trip end? Your brother is waiting for you to watch his match!" Before Amy could even respond, she rushed to ask.The day I was brought home, Mom and Dad stayed with a sobbing Matthew. Only Amy held my hand, brought me inside, and told me not to be afraid. The only warmth I ever felt in that house came from her.On the other end of the phone, Amy paused in surprise. "Is it Ethan's math competition? Isn't that next month?"Mom cut him off angrily. "Oh my, not Ethan again! Matthew is the brother you've known for years! How many times do I have to tell you? Ethan was raised outside and filled with bad habits. He doesn't deserve to be part of the Lambert family."I could hear Amy sigh, as if she could not understand Mom's hostility toward me. "Mom, sometimes you shouldn't believe everything Matthew says. Ethan is kind and hardworking. If you paid more attention to him, you'd see that."I just
My mom handed the paper, corroded by stomach acid, to the CSI. She rubbed her sore lower back and said to my dad with a sigh, "I hope we get something from this paper. Did you remind Matthew to lock the doors?"My dad nodded grimly. He then hesitated before speaking. "Honey, you know Ethan hasn't answered his phone or responded to Amy. Do you think something might have actually happened to him? Should I have someone check on him?"My mom was irritated and cut him off. "Come on, don't you know him by now? He’s just hiding, waiting for us to come looking. It's not the first time he’s pulled something like this."He just doesn't want to go to Matthew's match. By tomorrow at the latest, He’ll call us crying and apologizing."The last time I went missing was during summer break, when Matthew locked me in the school bathroom. The school was empty during the break, and no one could hear my cries for help.I managed to climb out, covered in dirt, and limped home with a twisted ankle.But inst
My mom seemed to sense something was wrong. She grabbed my dad's arm, her nails digging deeply into his skin."The victim is your son, Ethan."She collapsed to the ground, repeating in disbelief, "Ethan? How could it be him?"My dad held her up tightly, preventing her from falling completely.One of the officers whispered, "Mr. Lambert, we found the crime scene. It was located in a privately-built house near the abandoned building."My dad immediately responded, "Let's head to the scene. The forensic lab must have made a mistake."In the police car, my mom kept dialing my number over and over. My dad focused on driving, his eyes fixed on the road.He tried to reassure my mom. "Don't worry. Maybe Ethan went to the station and is in on this prank with the forensic team."But deep down, he must have known this was not the kind of thing anyone could fake.I could not describe how I felt. It was as if a venomous snake had wrapped itself around me, squeezing tighter and tighter until I coul
Tears welled up in Chester's eyes as well. "David, Stella, why don't you both head back to the station? We'll contact you if there are any updates," he said softly.But my mom did not seem to hear him. Her gloved hand gently touched the bloodstains on the ground. "How much pain did Ethan have to endure?" she whispered.Even some of the more emotional officers in the unit were quietly sobbing.My parents, devastated, got into the car. Watching their dazed expressions made my heart ache.From the time I was brought back home to the moment of my death, I had never once heard my parents call me Ethan.Just then, Leo from the forensic lab appeared and handed the test report to my dad. He then cast a sympathetic glance at my dazed mom."David, I'm sorry for your loss," he said.My dad's pupils tightened as he carefully examined the report, repeatedly checking the name written on it.After a long silence, he forced out through clenched teeth, "How is this possible?"Leo sighed and gently pat
Amy dropped everything when she heard the news of my death and rushed back, leaving her unfinished business trip behind.When she got home, our parents were sitting on the couch, their faces heavy with pain. Matthew was beside them. His eyes were red and swollen from crying, his nose tinged with pink."Amy, you're finally back. Ethan was murdered!""The killer hasn't been caught yet. Ethan had a habit of offending people. Could this be because of—"Suddenly, my dad's voice broke, hoarse and filled with anger, "Enough! The killer has already been identified, and the police are closing in on him! Ethan had nothing to do with him."As he spoke, he exchanged a pained look with my mom. When they learned that the killer had been seeking revenge for the arrest of his brother, both of them collapsed under the weight of the revelation.Their least favored son had lost his life because of them.Hearing this, a flash of nervousness crossed Matthew's face. He clenched the hem of his shirt tightly
When Matthew saw our parents and Amy in the audience, he smiled smugly.I knew what that smile meant. With me gone, he was now the most cherished in the family.During the intermission, Matthew cutely clung to my dad's arm. "Mom, Dad, Amy, I'm so glad you came."On the awards podium, Matthew beamed as he raised her trophy high. Facing the reporters, she smiled gently and said, "I wouldn't be here today without my family's support. I hope to always be my parents' pride and my sister’s favorite brother!"Watching his bask in the limelight made me sick to my stomach.His happiness was built on my suffering.How was it fair that Matthew pushed me into the depths of hell, yet he got to enjoy applause and admiration?In the crowd, I could hear murmured conversations. "Didn't his brother die recently? Poor thing, but he’s still so impressive.""I heard his brother was a troublemaker, involved with a bunch of girls. Probably got killed over some love triangle."Matthew heard the whispers too,
My body was found in an abandoned building.The construction workers, struggling to hold back their nausea, called the police.My parents rushed from my brother Matthew Lambert's celebration banquet to the crime scene.The crime scene investigator, Chester Ford, frowned and motioned for them to put on masks.My dad, David Lambert, was one of the top investigators the police brought in for special cases, and my mom, Stella Zimmer, was the leading forensic pathologist in Jasper City. Even though they had seen countless crime scenes, they still flinched when they saw my body.In the sweltering summer heat, my corpse had bloated significantly. My face was smashed beyond recognition, a bloody mess with no identifiable features. My entire body was covered in wounds, and only a sliver of skin still connected my head to my neck. The overwhelming stench of decay filled the air.Mom closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and put on her gloves to begin a preliminary examination. Her gaze held a ra
When Matthew saw our parents and Amy in the audience, he smiled smugly.I knew what that smile meant. With me gone, he was now the most cherished in the family.During the intermission, Matthew cutely clung to my dad's arm. "Mom, Dad, Amy, I'm so glad you came."On the awards podium, Matthew beamed as he raised her trophy high. Facing the reporters, she smiled gently and said, "I wouldn't be here today without my family's support. I hope to always be my parents' pride and my sister’s favorite brother!"Watching his bask in the limelight made me sick to my stomach.His happiness was built on my suffering.How was it fair that Matthew pushed me into the depths of hell, yet he got to enjoy applause and admiration?In the crowd, I could hear murmured conversations. "Didn't his brother die recently? Poor thing, but he’s still so impressive.""I heard his brother was a troublemaker, involved with a bunch of girls. Probably got killed over some love triangle."Matthew heard the whispers too,
Amy dropped everything when she heard the news of my death and rushed back, leaving her unfinished business trip behind.When she got home, our parents were sitting on the couch, their faces heavy with pain. Matthew was beside them. His eyes were red and swollen from crying, his nose tinged with pink."Amy, you're finally back. Ethan was murdered!""The killer hasn't been caught yet. Ethan had a habit of offending people. Could this be because of—"Suddenly, my dad's voice broke, hoarse and filled with anger, "Enough! The killer has already been identified, and the police are closing in on him! Ethan had nothing to do with him."As he spoke, he exchanged a pained look with my mom. When they learned that the killer had been seeking revenge for the arrest of his brother, both of them collapsed under the weight of the revelation.Their least favored son had lost his life because of them.Hearing this, a flash of nervousness crossed Matthew's face. He clenched the hem of his shirt tightly
Tears welled up in Chester's eyes as well. "David, Stella, why don't you both head back to the station? We'll contact you if there are any updates," he said softly.But my mom did not seem to hear him. Her gloved hand gently touched the bloodstains on the ground. "How much pain did Ethan have to endure?" she whispered.Even some of the more emotional officers in the unit were quietly sobbing.My parents, devastated, got into the car. Watching their dazed expressions made my heart ache.From the time I was brought back home to the moment of my death, I had never once heard my parents call me Ethan.Just then, Leo from the forensic lab appeared and handed the test report to my dad. He then cast a sympathetic glance at my dazed mom."David, I'm sorry for your loss," he said.My dad's pupils tightened as he carefully examined the report, repeatedly checking the name written on it.After a long silence, he forced out through clenched teeth, "How is this possible?"Leo sighed and gently pat
My mom seemed to sense something was wrong. She grabbed my dad's arm, her nails digging deeply into his skin."The victim is your son, Ethan."She collapsed to the ground, repeating in disbelief, "Ethan? How could it be him?"My dad held her up tightly, preventing her from falling completely.One of the officers whispered, "Mr. Lambert, we found the crime scene. It was located in a privately-built house near the abandoned building."My dad immediately responded, "Let's head to the scene. The forensic lab must have made a mistake."In the police car, my mom kept dialing my number over and over. My dad focused on driving, his eyes fixed on the road.He tried to reassure my mom. "Don't worry. Maybe Ethan went to the station and is in on this prank with the forensic team."But deep down, he must have known this was not the kind of thing anyone could fake.I could not describe how I felt. It was as if a venomous snake had wrapped itself around me, squeezing tighter and tighter until I coul
My mom handed the paper, corroded by stomach acid, to the CSI. She rubbed her sore lower back and said to my dad with a sigh, "I hope we get something from this paper. Did you remind Matthew to lock the doors?"My dad nodded grimly. He then hesitated before speaking. "Honey, you know Ethan hasn't answered his phone or responded to Amy. Do you think something might have actually happened to him? Should I have someone check on him?"My mom was irritated and cut him off. "Come on, don't you know him by now? He’s just hiding, waiting for us to come looking. It's not the first time he’s pulled something like this."He just doesn't want to go to Matthew's match. By tomorrow at the latest, He’ll call us crying and apologizing."The last time I went missing was during summer break, when Matthew locked me in the school bathroom. The school was empty during the break, and no one could hear my cries for help.I managed to climb out, covered in dirt, and limped home with a twisted ankle.But inst
As she gently told Matthew to rest, my mom received a call from Amy."Amy, when does your business trip end? Your brother is waiting for you to watch his match!" Before Amy could even respond, she rushed to ask.The day I was brought home, Mom and Dad stayed with a sobbing Matthew. Only Amy held my hand, brought me inside, and told me not to be afraid. The only warmth I ever felt in that house came from her.On the other end of the phone, Amy paused in surprise. "Is it Ethan's math competition? Isn't that next month?"Mom cut him off angrily. "Oh my, not Ethan again! Matthew is the brother you've known for years! How many times do I have to tell you? Ethan was raised outside and filled with bad habits. He doesn't deserve to be part of the Lambert family."I could hear Amy sigh, as if she could not understand Mom's hostility toward me. "Mom, sometimes you shouldn't believe everything Matthew says. Ethan is kind and hardworking. If you paid more attention to him, you'd see that."I just
At the case briefing, after listening to my mom's autopsy report, the officers all had somber expressions.My death was gruesome, making facial identification impossible.The abandoned building where my body was dumped was not the original crime scene, significantly increasing the difficulty of solving the case.Dad instructed the officers to search the area around where the body was found for any suspicious activity."Have the forensic pathologist perform another autopsy to see if there's anything new, and send the DNA samples to the forensic lab as soon as possible."He left my mom with that remark before hurrying off with his team.They showed more concern for the body than they ever did for me.My mom once stroked Matthew's hair and said that being a forensic pathologist was a noble profession. She believed that giving a voice to the dead was an important duty.I watched as Matthew nodded in agreement. However, the moment my mom turned away, Matthew wiped his hair in disgust.That
My body was found in an abandoned building.The construction workers, struggling to hold back their nausea, called the police.My parents rushed from my brother Matthew Lambert's celebration banquet to the crime scene.The crime scene investigator, Chester Ford, frowned and motioned for them to put on masks.My dad, David Lambert, was one of the top investigators the police brought in for special cases, and my mom, Stella Zimmer, was the leading forensic pathologist in Jasper City. Even though they had seen countless crime scenes, they still flinched when they saw my body.In the sweltering summer heat, my corpse had bloated significantly. My face was smashed beyond recognition, a bloody mess with no identifiable features. My entire body was covered in wounds, and only a sliver of skin still connected my head to my neck. The overwhelming stench of decay filled the air.Mom closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and put on her gloves to begin a preliminary examination. Her gaze held a ra